Extensible figure wheeled toy



y 1 D. A. CAMPBELL 2,

EXTENSIBLE FIGURE WHEELED TOY Filed Oct. 17, 1945 INVENTOR DONALD A. CAMPBELL ATTORNEYS Patented May 31, 1949 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE 2,471,722 EXTENSIBLE FIGURE WHEELED TOY Donald A. Campbell, Cleveland, Ohio Application October 17, 1945, Serial No. 622,830

(Cl. a6104) 4 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a toy, and more particularly to a toy in the form of an animal or insect having a life-like movement when it is operated.

In carrying out the invention I provide a lazytong structure mounted on wheels and which may support a suitable covering simulating an animal or insect, for example, and which lazytong structure is actuated to extended and retracted positions as it is moved over a surface, thereby producing a life-like movement.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings wherein- Fig. l is a view in perspective of a toy embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view in elevation of the toy with the cover thereof removed, the view being on a larger scale than the toy shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the structure shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a view of a toy similar to Fig. 2, but showing the lazytong structure in a retracted position.

In the form of the invention shown, the toy has the appearance of a rabbit 8, although it is to be understood that any suitable appearance may be used to simulate various other animals or insects. tong structure, indicated generally at H, which structure is formed by two sets of lazytongs 9 and In, each disposed in a plane spaced from and parallel to the plane of the other. The lazytong sets are formed by links [2, which may be of wood or metal, as desired, and which links, with one exception, are pivoted together at their centers by pivot pins l3 and the ends thereof by pins M.

The lazytong structure is supported for movement over a flat surface, such as a floor for example, by two sets of wheels I? and I8, which sets are located near opposite ends of the structure. The wheels H, which are preferably relatively large, are mounted on and non-rotatively connected to an axle 2|] that extends through and forms the central pivot for two crossing links of the lazytongs 9 and I0, and which axle also includes a crank 2| formed therein intermediate the two wheels Preferably, the wheels l! are spaced from each adjacent set of lazytongs by spacers 22, respectively. I prefer that the wheels I! be mounted on the lazytongs at least one and one-half links from the end of the lazytongs, as shown in the drawings.

The toy comprises in general, a lazyall The wheels I8 are mounted on an axle 25, the end portions of which axle extend through ends of two links i2 in each set of lazytongs to form a pivotal connection between the lazytong links. Preferably, the wheels I8 are considerably smaller than wheels l1 and they may be mounted eccentrically, and in that event they would cause a rising and falling motion as the lazytongs moves over the surface.

The lazytong structure is adapted to be extended, as shown in Fig. 2, and retracted as shown in Fig. l, as the structure is drawn over the floor. In the present form of the invention this is accomplished by providing a link 30 connected at one end to crank 2| and at the opposite end to a rod 32 which extends between the two sets of lazytongs. Preferably, the end portions of rod 32 form the pivots for the end joints of two links I2 in each set of lazytongs. Spacers 33 are provided between the link 30 and each set of lazytongs for retaining the link 30 in the central position, as shown in Fig. 3.

Although the toy may be power driven, in the present embodiment of the invention it is adapted to be pulled by a cord, not shown, tied to a wire yoke 35, the ends of which yoke are secured to the spacers 22. I

It will be apparent that as the lazytong structure is pulled across a surface the wheels I1 are rotated and they cause the crank 2| to actuate the link 30, and the action of the link causes extension and retraction of the lazytong structure during each rotation of the crank. By locating the axle ill intermediate the ends of the lazytong structure, the portion of the structure forwardly of the axle will extend forwardly at the time the portion of the structure to the rear of the axle moves rearwardly and when the forward portion moves rearwardly toward the axle the rear portion moves forwardly toward the axle. Thus, a life-like movement is imparted to the lazytong structure, suggestive of the movements of a rabbit or a worm, for example. By enclosing this structure by a suitable covering imitation of an animal or an insect, for example, a novel and interesting toy is provided.

Other forms of the invention may be adopted, all falling within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A toy simulating a ground traveling creature comprising, a horizontally extendable lazytong structure adapted to be substantially enclosed by a covering representing a creature, leading ground wheels mounted adjacent to the forward end oi the lazytong structure, ground wheels at the trailing end of the structure whereby the structure is supported by said wheels for rolling movement over the ground and is free to elongate and contract parallel with the ground as it moves along the latter, a crank driven by the leading wheels, and a link connecting the crank and the lazytong structure at a point short of the trailing end of the structure whereby the latter is extended and retracted byrotation of the leading wheels.

2. A toy simulating a ground traveling creature comprising a horizontally extendable lazytong structure adapted to be substantially enclosed by a covering representing a creature;-leadingground wheels mounted adjacent to the forward end of the lazytong structure and located-at least one joint removed from the end thereof, ground wheels at the trailing end of the structure whereby the structure is supported by said wheels for rolling movement over the ground and is free tof'elong-ate and contract parallel with the ground ;-as -it moves"along the latter, a crankdriven by =the' leading wheel, anda link connecting the crank andthe lazytongstructure short of the trailing :end of the structure whereby the latter is'extended and retracted byrotation 'of the leading =whee1s.

:3'A"toy:simulating a" ground traveling creature comprising a horizontally 'extendable lazytong structure adapted to 'besubstantially enclosed by a covering representing a creature, leading ground wheels mounted'a'djacent to theforward end of -'therlazyt0ng structure, ground wheels mounted --to-the'trailing'end of the structure whereby the structure is; supported"by said wheels for rolling movemen't over the ground'an'd isfree to elongate and contract parallelwith the-ground as it moves 4 along the latter, a crank driven by the leading wheels, and a link connecting the crank and the lazytong structure at a point intermediate the leading wheels and the trailing end of the lazytong structure whereby the latter is extended and retracted by rotation of the leading wheels. 4. A toy comprising, a structure formed by two sets of lazytongs, said lazytongs being disposed in parallel, vertically extending planes; a pair of leading wheels mounted between said sets of lazytongs adjacent one end thereof and a set of trailing Wheels mounted to said lazytongs adjacent the opposite end for supporting said lazytongs for movement over a surface, said lazytongs being freely extendable and contractible during "such movement; an axle for said leading wheels,

said axle having a crank formed therein between said wheels; and a link connected at one end to said crank and extending toward the end opposite said one end of I the lazytongs and being connectedat its other endto said lazytongs whereby said link operates to extend and retract said lazytongs when said leading wheels are rotated.

DONALD A. CAMPBELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references 'are of record in the 'file I "of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,059,506 Uhlich Apr. 22,1913 2,232,616 i Kupka Feb. 18, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 7,652 Great Britain Mar. '24, 1-897 

